The Final Wish (open)

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

The she-cat's pale green eyes, tinged with blue, stared sadly down into the water of the falls. Her Clan was falling apart. So many contraversies, all beyond her control... Stormstar wished she could take away her Clan's sufferings. But she knew that her lifetime would not see the appeasement of her tired Clan's spirits. The swirling water danced and played, making her head spin with starlight and dreams. Her thoughts went back to the recent Gathering, where they had recieved news of ThunderClan's medicine cat's deaths at the hand of one of their own warriors. Is this what StarClan wants? For us to feel that we have no other way to survive but kill each other? The forest is falling apart... oh I wish you could help me StarClan. Help me decide my final choice and let it be your will, please... Stormstar thought, staring up into the sky. She had finally chosen her sucsessor. She had chosen for several different reasons. Speed. Wisdom. Paitence. Heart. Knowledge of outsiders. Yes. She was sure. She remembered him as a kit. The poor thing... all broken with no one to love him. She herself had been a warrior, known as Stormwind. Somehow Stormstar had known who his mother way. A medicine cat... how forbidden it was for him to breathe... and now he's still alone. Only now... now he has his Clanmates... I believe he will be a good leader. I must believe so. Stormstar thought. She heard something behind her and whirled around, her fur bristling.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Stormstar spat.

"Oh please..." The voice was velvet and smooth, with a trace of malice and amusement, "We both know you do not have the strength or the lives to fight me. If I killed two Medicine cats and countless more warriors singled-pawed, what makes you think an old she-cat would be a problem?" The tabby's fur was mixed with the scent of blood and SilenceClan, and the female smell that clung to her confused Stormstar. Hadn't Tangleroot - a ThunderClan tom - killed Spottedleaf and Foxleaf? For that must be what this strange SilenceClanner was speaking of.

"I will fight you with all the strength i have left, cat, no matter who you are or who you've killed in cold blood!" Stormstar yowled furiously.

"It'll be satifsfying, seeing you and your Clan wither and die!" The she-cat chuckled.

"Who are you?" Stormstar demanded. The she-cat grinned malicously.

"I am Chaos. And now... you will die!" She lunged forward and Stormstar reared onto her hindlegs, giving a wild battlecry that echoed louder than even the falls itself. She lashed out at Chaos and caught the she-cat on the muzzle, but she was too quick for the old leader. Chaos whirled around and fixed her paws on each of Stormstar's shoulders, biting down onto her neck. She tore and scratched and bit until Stormstar could only squirm in agony, the fight in her old bones spent. Chaos finally left her lying in a pool of her own blood, the SilenceClanner's only attributes from gashes on her face and side.

"I'll leave you to die a slow and painful death. Seems fit. Goodbye now." Chaos purred, trotting off. Stormstar stared after her, and then coughed feebly. Blood pooled at her muzzle and she tasted it, bitter and salty and hot and sticky, on her tongue. She tried to move so that she wouldn't be forced to breathe it, but it hurt too badly and caused the blood to run faster from her many gashes. She scented, through a misty red haze, a tom approaching.

"Stormstar!?!" She watched the tabby form leap towards her and coughed as he bent down and sniffed her gently.

"Wolfhowl..." She coughed.

"Yes?" The tom asked gently. His face was filled with sorrow but calm. Stormstar knew that he understood. He knew she would not survive. She would lose her life. For the very last time.

"I..." She coughed up more blood but managed to suck in a weak, trembling breath, "I want... I want you to lead the Clan... when I'm gone... I want you... to suceed... me..." She mewed feebly.

"What? But Stormstar, I'm-" He looked horrified, his ears pinned against his skull, but Stormstar stopped him before he could continue.

"You are good and wise and know the ways of rouges and those who seek to destroy us. You are understanding. You are paitent. I have watched you grow, and I have delighted in your abilties not only as a warrior, but as a brave and loyal friend. I see your mother in you..." Stormstar said softly. His mother... Stormstar's sister.

"S-Stormstar..." Wolfhowl stammered.

"I am sure of my decision. Please... there... is one more..." She coughed weakly, and the pain in her chest spiked until she could hardly breathe any longer. She gasped and managed one last word with her final breath.

"Chaos..."

And with that, the grey-furred leader of RiverClan passed on to the fields of the stars, where she would be greeted by her ancestors for the final time. She would then become one of them. After nine lives serving her Clan... she was free to rest in peace. But as her spirit wavered on the brink of death she paused and looked back.

[Brambleclaw]

He felt saddened at the news. The news she herself had told him. What to repay him for his deeds? He had to remember, he was no Clanner anymore. He was his father's son, his mother's little fighter. The only survivor. He was a Feral boy. He had fight in his veins. Love was for the weak at heart. But he felt weak at heart without his own love. He felt horrible. She was now having another tom's kits. A tom who was stupid, ugly, and beat-down. He could be her father for all she knew! But they loved each other, and it made him sick.

He had saved her. Twice. Once when she was near-dead, and again when she had fallen. The river was her enemy. She obviously didn't have river blood. And neither did this tom, who said he came from ShadowClan. No, not a drop of river blood there. They'd have kits who couldn't swim and would die without his saving help. Not that he had any river blood either, but at least he was born near the river. That counted for something. Because somewhere he did have river blood. But they didn't.

He had stopped caring about five minutes ago. When the sun had reached its highest. The day would be marked accursed on the calendar of his life. But there was still some hope. That stupid tom, what was his name? Roottail, or something like. Well, he didn't seem entirely thrilled by the thought of kits. He suspected that stupid tom of something. He was beginning to believe that rogue Chasinglight now. Lichenpaw was obviously stolen. And probably Ghostpaw too. So if this was Rootface's first real litter he might back out enough to let him squeeze in. He'd show that stupid Rootfoot... Or was it Rootear? It was Rootclaw, that was it.

Rootclaw and Willowsong. The stupid kittypet and her stupid kittypet mate. Nothing but blue-blood, non-fighter types they were. Willowsong couldn't hold her own against a leaf! Not that he minded, however. He loved her and didn't have enough in him to care. But it was still frustrating. He wanted the pretty white she-cat, not that low-down worm-eating bile-brain! He wasn't good enough for her. She deserved a compassionate, caring, gentle and loving tom. Not some pathetic excuse for the twoleg's party trash. She didn't know what was missing, what Rootclaw didn't have. Youth.

But the scent of blood filled his nostrils and sent him in a frenzy. Blood was his love by birth. Chaos and trouble and hated and rebellion and blood. But not this kind of blood. This was the sticky-hot blood of a cat, and a RiverClanner at that. Not some mouse or bird or fish. It was cat blood. The worst of all blood. He swallowed and ran forward, catching the sight of Wolfhowl and Stormstar. Stormstar was dead.
"What happened?" Hawkeye asked, terrified.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Wolfhowl sat mourning his leader when a voice behind him interupted. He turned slightly to fix Hawkeye with his pale grey-blue eyes. He blinked once and then turned slightly to look at his leader. Her body was growing stiff. He should move it to camp before it was too hard for him.

"She was attacked and killed by the same cat that killed Spottedleaf and Foxleaf. Of that I am certain." He remembered the urgent look in his leader's eyes as she whispered her murderer's name with her final breath. Chaos... a befitting name for such a horrid, devilish cat. Wolfhowl thought angrily, digging his claws into the earth. He would get that cat. He would avenge Stormstar's death, and the deaths of so many others. But he would be paitent, for now. Paitent... As long as I can be...

[Brambleclaw]

"So Tangleroot killed her, too?" Hawkeye asked as a look of fear crossed his face. If Hawkeye was anywhere near... He shook away the thought. He could have Willowsong and Rootclaw now. But Stormstar? It was just too horrible to think of. Why would a Clan cat kill so many innocent ones? He looked up at Wolfhowl, suddenly wondering if maybe this was his opportunity. He just had to make sure he wasn't hinting visibly, but setting a foundation for a later date.
"Without a leader, RiverClan is most certainly dead. Do you think one of the Medicine Cats will see a sign of who is the leader?" Hawkeye frowned and looked away in deep thought.
"Did Stormstar tell you her successor?" He asked, looking sadly at Wolfhowl curiously.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Wolfhowl was silent for a few moments. This is it. This is the moment where I decide my destiny. I could tell him I don't know, but what if the Medicine cats are told that I am to be the new leader? I think that either way, I am stuck. So I might as well say it... He looked at Hawkeye and sighed.

"Stormstar told me." He murmured.

"... I am to be the new leader of RiverClan." He meowed, studying Hawkeye's face. There's something... strange...

"And no," he added, "Tangleroot did not kill Stormstar, or Spottedleaf." He meowed thoughtfully. But why would Firestar think he did? What if he was trying to help Spottedleaf? Had he been forced to run away for no reason? It seemed unjust. Or perhaps something else is going on?

[Brambleclaw]

Hawkeye blinked and quickly looked away. It was getting better and better.
"So Tangleroot didn't kill Spottedleaf or Stormstar, or Foxleaf?" The tom verified with another shuddering sigh. "And he was falsely accused? Should I go tell Firestar? We don't want Tangleroot's life ruined..." Hawkeye said sadly, still not meeting Wolfhowl's gaze. The tom was probably clever. But it couldn't be helped. Hawkeye finally looked up.
"Should we tell the Clan first?" He asked innocently. He wouldn't be Stormstar's Deputy, but could he be Wolfhowl's?

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Wolfhowl closed his eyes and gave a soft sigh.

"I'm afraid Firestar probably won't listen to me... maybe he will. But all I know is a name... a name. If we can find the cat that did this to Stormstar, then maybe we'll have proof. Or maybe Tangleroot knows something...?" He might as well have been talking to himself. He didn't know what to do. What could he do? Firestar obviously was sure that Tangleroot was the murderer, but it appeared that it was a she-cat named Chaos. How would Stormstar know that, though? This is all so confusing... He thought, sighing.

[Brambleclaw]

Hawkeye nodded and sighed. Obviously Wolfhowl was very uncertain.
"Well, you best get your name before anything else happens...." He said with another sigh. "And choose a Deputy. Maybe StarClan brought this on Stormstar. It is well known a Deputy must be chosen by nightfall or else STarClan will forsake the leader..." He meowed with yet another sigh. He walked over to Stormstar and bowed his head over her, grabbing her scruff and dragging her along surprisingly well for his youth and strength. What better way to show his worthiness though? He sighed again, inwardly this time, and continued to pull his leader toward camp.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

OOC: Soo are you set on Hawkeye becoming deputy for plot reasons or something?

BIC: Wolfhowl nodded slightly and looked over his shoulder. He caught a faint whiff of the murderess's scent. He froze. I recgonize that scent... somehow... He searched through his mind, but nothing on it came. Chaos. Where had he heard of her before? WHERE? The tom felt as though he had an itch that could not be reached. I MUST find the cat that did this. But later. For now my Clan is most important. He thought with a sigh. He turned and leaped after Hawkeye, gently taking Stormstar's body where it dragged. He took in her scent, tainted with blood and death, one last time. He closed his eyes. I loved you like a mother, Stormstar. I can't believe you're really gone. He felt the wind rise up and a little of the waterfall's spray drifted in the breeze and brushed Wolfhowl's face, cooling him a little. He looked up at the sky and smiled slightly. Thank you for reminding me, Stormstar. You're still with me. You'll be watching over me. I'm glad.

[Brambleclaw]

[[Temporarily, but yes...]]

Hawkeye finally saw the camp up ahead, and he walked sadly into it. Stares of surprised, shocked, and saddened cats penetrated his pelt but he didn't think on it. He had the task at hand, and couldn't let that slip from his mind no matter what was there to distract him. He set down her body in the middle of the clearing and waited. Wolfhowl was to be the new leader, and Wolfhowl should announce what had happened. Besides, he had been there for Stormstar's final words and could better relay her death. So he sat and waited for anything to happen.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Wolfhowl gently set Stormstar down, giving her pelt a gentle lick before sprinting up to the stone that had marked her den for so long. He leaped up onto it and turned to face the confused, shocked cats before him. My Clan... I am their heart now. I am their leader.

"Let all cats join here in the clearing for a... a Clan meeting!" He called, his voice only faltering once. This was no ordinary Clan meeting. He saw Liontail and Rainfall pad out of the Warriors den. Ottertail bounced over from the fresh kill pile, his whole body freezing as soon as he saw Stormstar. Wolfhowl saw Weepingpaw sitting a little ways away, watching with a dark expression in her eyes.

[Brambleclaw]

Hawkeye sat himself near the front of the Highrock, making sure he was made known. He saw Rootclaw come into the camp with three fish in his jaws, but dropped them soon as he saw Stormstar. Willowsong padded quickly out of the den, the Nursery, and exchanged a surprised glance with her mate. It was horrible. What had happened now?

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

"My friends," Wolfhowl meowed sadly, "I am... pained by the news I must tell you. As... as you can see, our noble leader is no more. she was murdered by a cat called Chaos. This same cat was the one that murdered Spottedleaf and Foxleaf of ThunderClan." He meowed somberly. He looked over the shocked and angry faces of his Clanmates, and then found himself looking at Weepingpaw. He saw an expression of pure horror on her face. Why? Does she know something? He wondered.

"Who will lead the Clan?" Rainfall demanded, her voice breaking a little. Wolfhowl looked down at her and then sighed.

"Stormstar told me before she died that I would succeed her as leader. Tonight I will go and recieve my nine lives from StarClan." He meowed, not at all pleased or excited by the thought. Who am I to lead these cats? I am only the son of a medicine cat. Forbidden. Abandoned. But I've returned to become the leader of the Clan. Is that how destiny works? He wondered.

[Brambleclaw]

Hawkeye nodded sadly, looking at the fallen leader with a sigh.
"I support you, Wolfhowl. You'll be an excellent leader, and I'll be glad to follow you." He said softly, looking up kindly at his to-be leader. Another cat nodded. It was Runningflight, the Medicine Cat Apprentice.
"You'll be a great leader, no doubt." He said, trying to lighten the mood a little.
"We'll be proud to be RiverClanners with you to rule." Rootclaw added with a smile, c=glancing at his mate Willowsong.
"I have faith in your leadership." She said softly, mostly to herself.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

"But how can we know you're trustworthy? How can we know this is truly what Stormstar wanted?" Liontail asked, looking up at him serenly. Wolfhowl saw no accusation or anger in those eyes, just a vague uncertainty.

"I know that my parentage and kithood are questionable, but my honor is not. I am glad that some of you support me, and I understand how some are questioning. You are an honorable warrior, Liontail, and I would hope that you could give me your trust." He meowed. Liontail hesitated, then nodded.

"I wish now to name the cat that will be my deputy. Hawkeye, I know you're young, but you've shown a lot of support to me already and you are strong and brave. I believe that you are the right choice as my deputy." He meowed, nodding decisively.

[Brambleclaw]

Hawkeye smiled happily, nodding.
"If only Stormstar were still here. But realize that if Wolfhowl isn't the right choice, he won't be given lives from StarClan. So if he does get his lives and his name, we can trust him." Hawkeye said, mostly to Liontail. He turned to see Willowsong vanish into the Nursery, followed by Rootclaw, but he tried to shrug it off. He turned to look back at Wolfhowl with a smile. Things were just getting better and better. They most certainly were.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Liontail nodded.

"I only wanted to be sure. I will follow you... Wolfstar." he meowed softly. Wolfhowl dipped his head.

"Thank you." He meowed. The harsh reality had caught on to all of them. Stormstar was dead. He bowed his head.

"I will be leaving soon. But for tonight we must mourn our leader's passing." He said quietly.

[Brambleclaw]

Hawkeye nodded, and soon saw Rootclaw slip back out of the Nursery to pay respects to the old leader. But two cats Hawkeye didn't see were Runningflight and Willowsong. Hawkeye tried to forget it and pay respects to Stormstar.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Wolfhowl leaped from the rock, signaling the end of the meeting. He padded forward and lay down beside Stormstar, burying his nose in his old friend and leader's pelt. You fought for me when I joined the Clan. You never excluded me, and you trusted me when hardly any other cat would. You led the way for me to be accepted for the first time in my life. You once told me you had failed Blackpaw as a mother. Maybe so. But you didn't fail me, Stormstar. You didn't fail me.

OOC: Aw... it's... so... touching... *wipes away tears*

[Brambleclaw]

[[Awwwww....... <3 ]]